32nd SEA Games: Brownlee-led Gilas uncrowns Indonesia, sets gold medal bout VS Cambodia

PHNOM PENH – When needed the most, he was there.

Thanks to Justin Brownlee, the redemption tour for Gilas Pilipinas remained kicking.

Brownlee had 34 points, made crucial buckets down the stretch, and the Philippines dethroned reigning gold medalist Indonesia in the semifinals, 84-76, of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at Morodok Techo Stadium on Monday night, May 15.

The naturalized forward tallied the first eight points in the 12-0 run used by the nationals with a minute left in the final canto to avenge their bitter defeat at the hands of the Indonesians last year in Hanoi, Vietnam.

In Hanoi 2021 Games, the Indonesian side deprived the Filipino cagers of the biennial meet tilt they dominated for 33 years.

This time, they fell short of repeating the almost impossible feat as Brownlee ensured it won't happen again.

The resident Barangay Ginebra San Miguel import hit back-to-back triples and assisted Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser in a three-point play that fired Gilas ahead, 80-74, with 1:39 to go.

From there, Lester Prosper and company couldn't do anything to stop Chot Reyes' wards from advancing to the gold medal match.

JB finished the game with 5-of-11 three-pointers en route to shooting 41 percent in the field. He also collected nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks.

Ganuelas-Rosser added 13 markers and Arvin Tolentino contributed 10 for Gilas, which regained form in the second half after a sluggish start in the first 20 minutes.

Gilas played catchup since the first period, trailing by as many as 11 points. The Philippines even trailed by four with 4:10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, 74-70.

Behind Brownlee, Ganuelas-Rosser, and Marcio Lassiter, the Chot Reyes-mentored squad tied the game at 50-all.

Prosper, who was a former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) reinforcement, bannered Indonesia with 26 points and nine boards. Anthony Beane chipped in 12 for Milos Pejic's troops.

For the Philippines, the focus now shifts to their winner-take-all clash against host Cambodia, which beat Thailand in the semifinal opener earlier, 86-79, for their first-ever finals appearance.

The Cambodians defeated Gilas last May 11, 79-68, with the postgame marred by commotion between the oppositions.

The Philippines and Cambodia will meet again on Tuesday, May 16, at 4 p.m. (Manila time), for the SEA Games 2023 crown.

Meanwhile, Indonesia takes on Thailand in the battle for bronze on the same day as the championship round.

Philippines (84) – Brownlee 34, Ganuelas-Rosser 13, Tolentino 10, Lassiter 9, Lastimosa 9, Newsome 4, Ross 2, Perez 2, Standhardinger 1, Phillips 0.

Indonesia (76) – Prosper 26, Beane 12, Prastawa 9, Jawato 8, Gemilang 6, Kokodiptura 3, Kosasih 2, Saputera 1, Arighi, Teja 0.

Quarter Scores: 34-20, 45-38, 65-60, 84-76.